BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a pool cleaner valve arrangement as well as to a pool cleaner making use of such valve.

[0002] It is known to provide a pool cleaner with a valve such as a diaphragm valve, or a wedge-shaped valve that moves reciprocally in the pool cleaner, in order to induce movement to the pool cleaner.

[0003] The effectiveness of this kind of pool cleaner depends on the environment in which it is used. Especially when used in an environment with a lot of debris the valve can jam which results in the pool cleaner coming to a standstill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention aims to provide an alternative valve for a pool cleaner.

[0005] The invention provides a pool cleaner valve arrangement which includes an outer tubular formation, an inner tubular formation which is located at least partially inside the outer formation and which is movable relatively to the outer formation, a sealing member which is attached to the inner formation and an abutment surface which is engaged with the outer formation and with which the sealing member is sealingly engageable and disengageable.

[0006] The outer formation may include at least a first primary inlet opening. The outer formation may include at least a first secondary inlet opening. Preferably the primary and secondary openings are spaced apart. [0007] The valve arrangement may include at least a first guide member which spaces the outer and inner formations apart. The first guide member may be in the form of an upper spacer which is attached to either the outer formation or the inner formation. Preferably the valve arrangement includes a second guide member which spaces the outer and inner formations apart and which is spaced apart from the first guide member. The second guide member may be in the form of a lower spacer which is attached to either the outer formation or the inner formation.

[0008] In an alternative form of the invention the first guide member is in the form of an elongate, tubular guide member which is attached to the outer formation and with which the inner formation is slidingly engaged.

[0009] The inner formation may be elongate and may extend between a first end in the form of an inlet and a second end in the form of an outlet. Preferably the sealing member is attached to the inlet.

[0010] The sealing member may include an upper flange and an opposite lower flange. The lower flange may be engageable with the abutment surface and the upper flange may be engageable with the outer formation. The sealing member is preferably cup-shaped and includes a central opening.

[0011] Preferably the sealing member and the abutment surface include complementary shaped and opposing sealing surfaces.

[0012] The invention also provides a pool cleaner which includes a body, a passage which extends through the body which has a mouth and an opposite exit and a pool cleaner valve arrangement of the aforementioned kind located in the passage. [0013] The pool cleaner may include a hose connection means attached to the exit.

[0014] The pool cleaner may include an annular skirt which is engaged with the body.

[0015] Preferably the pool cleaner includes a holder formation which is connected to the body and to which the skirt is removably attached. The holder formation may connect to the body with a snap action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pool cleaner according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a lower portion of the pool cleaner of Figure 1 showing a pool cleaner valve according to the invention in a first open position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the pool cleaner portion of Figure 2 and of the valve of Figure 2 in a second closed position;

Figure 4 is a view from below of a mouth of the pool cleaner of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a lower portion of a pool cleaning showing a pool cleaner valve according to another form of the invention in a first open position; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the pool cleaner portion of Figure 5 and of the valve of Figure 5 in a second closed position. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Figures 1 to 4 show a pool cleaner 10 which has a body 12, a flow passage 14 which extends through the body 12 from a mouth 16 formed at a lower end 18 of the body 12 to an opposing exit 20 formed at an upper end 22 of the body 12.

[0018] A hose connection means or joint 24 is attached to the upper end 22 and is in communication with the exit 20. A pool hose 26 of known construction is attached to the body 12 by way of the joint 24.

[0019] A holder 28 is engaged with and connected to the body 12 at the mouth 16. In this example the holder 28 has resiliently deformable catches 3OA, B with which the holder 28 is connected to the lower end 18 and the body 12 with a snap action. The holder 28 has a circular recess 32 to which an annular pool cleaner skirt 34 is removably attached. In this manner the skirt 34 is removably attached to the holder 28 and body 12.

[0020] A pool cleaner valve arrangement 36 which is shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3 is located in the passage 14. The valve 36 has an elongate, outer tubular formation or sleeve 38 and an elongate, inner tubular formation or actuator 40 which is located at least partially inside the sleeve 38 and which is movable relatively to the sleeve 38.

[0021] The sleeve 38 has a plurality of primary openings 42, first and second secondary openings 44A, B which are spaced from the primary openings 42, an upper guide 46 and a lower guide 48.

[0022] Although a number of primary openings 42 and secondary openings 44 are shown in this example it is possible to provide a single primary opening 42 and a single secondary opening 44. The secondary openings 44 extend through the body 12 and the sleeve 38 into the flow passage 14.

[0023] Each of the upper and lower guides 46, 48 has an annular shape with a central aperture 50 through which the actuator 40 extends. The upper guide 46 and the lower guide 48 are spaced apart and are fixed to the body 12 and sleeve 38. The actuator 40 is slidingly engaged with the upper and lower guides 46, 48. Spaced apart slots 51 which extend in the same direction as the actuator 40 are formed in the guides 46, 48. The guides 46, 48 act as spacers between the body 12, sleeve 38 and actuator 40.

[0024] Alternatively to be fixed to the body 12 and sleeve 38 the upper and lower guides 46, 48 can be fixed to the actuator 40.

[0025] The actuator 40 is in the form of an open-ended elongate cylinder which extends between a first end 52 in the form of an inlet and a second end 54 in the form of an outlet.

[0026] A sealing member or seal 56 is attached to the inlet 52 and is cup-shaped. The seal 56 has an upper flange 58, an opposite lower flange 60 and a central hole 62 which is formed at the lower flange 60. The seal 56 can alternatively be integrally formed on the actuator 40.

[0027] The valve 36 has an abutment surface 64 with which the seal 56 is sealingly engageable and disengageable. The abutment surface 64 is formed on a buffer 66 which is positioned in the mouth 16 and which is fixed to the holder 28 by way of brackets 68 as is shown in Figure 4. [0028] The abutment surface 64 and the lower flange 60 of the seal 56 are of complementary shape and form opposing sealing surfaces.

[0029] Importantly the sleeve 38 is fixed to the body 12 in the passage 14 and the buffer 66 is fixed to the body 12 by way of the holder 28.

[0030] The body 12, holder 28, skirt 34 and valve 36 are manufactured from appropriate plastics materials for example by way of injection moulding. Although the body 12, holder 28 and sleeve 38 are in this example shown as separate components, these components can be integrally formed and the buffer 66 can be attached to the holder 28 or body 16 in any other appropriate manner.

[0031] In use the hose 26 is connected to a pool pump 70, the cleaner 10 is submerged in water 72 and the cleaner 10 settles on a submerged pool surface 74.

[0032] When the pump 70 is activated water 72 is drawn through the cleaner 10 and hose 26 towards the pump 70. The water 72 enters the cleaner 10 through the mouth 16 and passes through the passage 14 where it enters the valve 36 through the primary openings 42. From here the water 72 flows through the sleeve 38 and enters the actuator 40 through the hole 62. The water 72 is drawn through the actuator 40 and exits the actuator 40 at the outlet 54.

[0033] Although a limited amount of water 72 flows in the passage 14 between the sleeve 38 and actuator 40 and through the slots 51 most of the water 72 flows through the actuator 40.

[0034] This position is shown in Figure 2 which shows the valve 36 in a first open position wherein the actuator 40 is retracted into the body 12 and away from the abutment surface 64. The hole 62 is open and allows water 72 to flow through the actuator 40.

[0035] As a result of a higher flow speed of the water 72 in the actuator 40 than the flow speed of the water 72 between the actuator 40 and the sleeve 38 a low pressure area is created within the actuator 40 and a high pressure area is created between the sleeve 38 and the actuator 40 and at the upper flange 58. These high and low pressure areas cause the actuator 40 to be displaced inside the sleeve 38 in a first direction 80 towards the abutment surface 64. The actuator 40 moves in the first direction 80 until the lower flange 60 of the seal 56 abuts the abutment surface 64 and the hole 62 is closed.

[0036] The valve 36 is now in a second closed position, as is shown in Figure 3, and the flow of water 72 through the actuator 40 is prevented. In this closed position the seal 56 abuts and seats on the abutment surface 64.

[0037] The suction of the pump 70 continues to draw water 72 through the mouth 16. The water 72 now flows through the primary openings 42 and through the passage 14 between the sleeve 38 and actuator 40. The secondary openings 44 also allows water 72 to be drawn into the passage 14 between the sleeve 38 and the actuator 40.

[0038] As a result of the increased flow speed of the water 72 between the sleeve 38 and the actuator 40 a low pressure area is formed between the actuator 40 and the sleeve 38 and as water flow through the hole 62 and actuator 40 is restricted a high pressure area is created in the actuator 40 and at the hole 62 and the lower flange 60. These high and low pressure areas cause the actuator 40 to move in a second direction 82 which is opposite to the first direction 80. The actuator 40 moves away from the abutment surface 64 and into the sleeve 38 and body 12 until the upper flange 58 abuts the lower guide 48. The valve 36 is now again in the first open position shown in Figure 3.

[0039] Alternatively the movement of the actuator 40 in the second direction 82 is restricted as a result of the reversal of the high and low pressure areas when the flow speed of the water 72 through the hole 62 and actuator 40 increases.

[0040] The reciprocal movement of the actuator 40 inside the sleeve 38 and the respective collisions between the seal 56 and the buffer 66 and the lower guide 48 result in motion of the cleaner 10 across the pool surface 74. Any debris (not shown) in the water 72 or on the pool surface 74 is drawn towards the pump 70 and a filter system (not shown) through the mouth 16, primary openings 42, valve 36, secondary openings 44 and passage 14 in a known manner.

[0041] By adjusting the suction power of the pump 70, the sizes of the primary openings 42, secondary openings 44 and hole 62 and the spacing between the actuator 40 and the sleeve 38 and upper and lower guides 46, 48, the frequency and force of the reciprocal movement of the actuator 40 can be controlled. In this manner the characteristics of the cleaner 10 can be adjusted for a specific working environment. Any debris which might become trapped between the actuator 40 and sleeve 38 is dislodged and broken up by the movement of the actuator 40.

[0042] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative pool cleaner 10B with an alternative valve 36B and similar reference numerals are used for similar components identified in respect of the pool cleaner 10 and valve 36. Only the differences between the pool cleaner 1OB and the pool cleaner 10 and the valve 36B and the valve 36 are discussed.

[0043] In the valve 36B the upper and lower guides 46, 48 are replaced by an elongate, tubular guide member 100. The guide member 100 is attached and sealed to the body 12 by an annular bracket 102 and the flow passage 14 extends through the guide member 100. The guide member 100 is spaced from the body 12 and sleeve 38 and the actuator 40 is slidingly engaged with the guide member 100. A secondary flow passage 104 is defined between the body 12 and sleeve 38, the actuator 40 and the guide member 100. Spacers 106 are located between the guide member 100 and the actuator 40 or between the body 12 and sleeve 38 and the actuator 40 in order to ensure that the body 12 and sleeve 38, the actuator 40 and the guide member 100 remain spaced apart. The spacers 104 can be attached to either the guide member 100, actuator 40 or the body 12 and the sleeve 38.

[0044] The valve 36B operates in a similar manner as the valve 36 and as water 72 is drawn through the hole 62 when the valve 36B is in a first open position, as is shown in Figure 5, a low pressure area is created within the actuator 40 and a high pressure area is created in the secondary flow passage 104. These high and low pressure areas cause the actuator 40 to be displaced in the sleeve 38 and on the guide member 100 in the first direction 80 towards the abutment surface 64. The valve 36B moves to a second closed position in the manner described and this second closed position is shown in Figure 6.

[0045] The continued suction of the pump 70 draws water 72 through the secondary flow passage 104 into the guide member 100. A high pressure area is created in the actuator 40 and at the hole 62 and the lower flange 60 and a low pressure area is created in the secondary flow passage 102 between the body 12 and sleeve 38, the actuator 40 and the guide member 100. These high and low pressure areas cause the actuator 40 to move in the second direction 82 until the actuator 40 abuts the annular bracket 102 with which the guide member 100 is sealed to the body 12 or sleeve 38.

[0046] The reciprocal movement of the actuator 40 in the sleeve 38 and on the guide member 100 and the respective collisions between the seal 56 and the buffer 66 and the actuator 40 and the annular bracket 102 result in motion of the cleaner 10B across the pool surface 74.